The Role Of Heroes In Ancient Greek Mythology

209 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Odysseus the hero's journey

The people of today when discovering a new hero always seem interested in being educated about their backstory, their progression, and their true character. They want to be able to relate to these people of popularity for their own self-satisfaction. But for some unknown reason, people enjoy to watch other people fall; it amuses them. The lower part of society is obsessed with the drama that heroes (celebrities) bring along with making their own life decisions. In Mythology and You by Donna Rosenberg and Sorelle Baker, Hercules and Odysseus made ignorant and selfish choices on their way to high heroic success. People of Ancient Greek mythology didn’t seem to value the lives of humans compared to the societies of the modern world, gruesome battles

Show More
Related

  • The Role Of Heroes In Mythology By Edith Hamilton

    537 Words  | 2 Pages

    What is a hero? The book Mythology by Edith Hamilton has a lot of heroes and most of them have 2 things in common. The heroes are in their own ways superior whether it be strength, intelligence, and/or courage. The second thing they have in common is a quest that establishes their greatness and proving that they are good enough to be called heroes. The catch is that even though they may have the characteristics of a hero, not all of them are epic heroes.

    Read More

  • herody Little Heroism in Homer's Odyssey

    1286 Words  | 3 Pages

    "Could I forget that kingly man, Odysseus?  There is no mortal half so wise; no mortal gave so much to the lords of the open sky." proclaims Zeus, the king of all gods in Homer's The Odyssey.  He, among countless others, harbors high regards for Odysseus, the mastermind of the Trojan War turned lost sailor.  However, the epic poem is sprinkled with the actions of gods and goddesses pushing Odysseus towards his path home to Ithaka, giving the mortal war hero little exposure to the limelight.  So when does all the high and mighty talk of Odysseus' power prove true?  Only in the absence of godly intervention can the title character live up to his name.  In Homer's The Odyssey, excessive reliance on the gods' assistance weakens the overall effect of Odysseus as the hero; while, as a break from the norm, Odysseus' single-handed defeat of the Kyklops Polyphêmos adds true suspense to the story as well as merit to Odysseus' character.

    Read More

  • Heros Journey In The Odyssey: The Hero's Journey

    1422 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the Hero’s journey, The Odyssey, the main protagonist, Odysseus, changes in a way which helps him gain self-knowledge. Odysseus ' experiences transformed his personality from how he was in the beginning to the end, by leading him through a heroic journey, also known as a quest. The real reason for a quest never involves the stated reason, and this is no different with Odysseus. As the story developed, many of Odysseus’ sides were exposed through the challenges he faced. Out of the countless dangers and obstacles every step back home, him and his crew have only acquired minimal character changes. Even though they are minimal, they are those which take many decades to achieve.

    Read More

  • Unbroken Vs Odyssey

    587 Words  | 2 Pages

    Stories like The Odyssey remind readers that even the toughest people have weak spots. It is easy to be blinded by the strength and valor these heroes display and forget that everyone has pitfalls. It can prove refreshing to be reminded that even the most thick-skinned people are just humans too. Seeing a hero make questionable decisions or act on their emotions can be reassuring, especially to be reminded that hero is not a synonym for perfect. This effect is why these stories have been popular for

    Read More

  • Heroes Vs Antiheroes Analysis

    1391 Words  | 3 Pages

    The bulk of the praise a hero receives tends to be in response to his or her actions. People look up to the heroes who can perform the most miraculous feats. However, there is an element of heroism beyond the superficial element of a hero’s actions: the hero’s character. Both heroes and antiheroes might do great things; however, the similarities end where motivations are considered, and these differences in motivations are rooted in the differences in the character of heroes and the antiheroes. An antihero’s character is flawed, leading to actions based on selfish and impure motivations. In contrast, a hero is characterized by his or her selflessness; this can be defined as putting the interests of others above the interests of oneself, and

    Read More

  • Creon: A Tragic Hero

    852 Words  | 2 Pages

    Over time, history has given society many to whom we call true heroes. There are many reasons these heroes have been looked up to such as: bravery, dedication, confidence, and inspiration. However, a tragic hero requires a few different qualities. Aristotle describes a tragic hero as a “member of royalty,” someone who “must fall from tremendous good fortune,” and someone who creates pity for him or herself (“Connections: A Theory” 2000). In Greek drama, Sophocles’ Antigone and Euripides’ Medea both contain several possible tragic heroes including Medea, Jason, and Creon. More specifically, in Antigone Creon exemplifies the qualities of a tragic hero best due to his prominent power as king of Thebes, the way he holds strong to his stubborn pride, and the sympathy felt for him in his tragic downfall.

    Read More

  • Hercules

    705 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hercules was a big time character and everyone looked up to him because of his strength and position in Greek culture. He had many influences and left a distinct imp...

    Read More

  • Defining Heroism: A Study of Achilles in Greek Mythology

    1027 Words  | 3 Pages

    As defined by Merriam Webster dictionary a hero is “ a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities” (Merriam-Webster, 2015). That means by proper definition none of the Greek heroes qualify. Nevertheless, Greek mythology has a different definition of what a hero is and it is defined by distinctive characteristics. According to Momi Awana, Greek heroes are valued by the embracement of their mortality, superhuman abilities, un-heroic behaviors, and impermanent death (Awana, n.d.). Although some may argue because of how we today define a hero, based off of the Greek values Achilles was a courageous, loyal, and epic Greek hero who fought and led the Trojan War. He encompasses all the qualities valued by the Greeks of this time and therefore makes him the hero that he was and still is today.

    Read More

  • Aeneas The Hero

    884 Words  | 2 Pages

    Heroes have formed an important part of literature since the ancient and medieval times. They represent the dominant values and ideals in a culture that only a few human beings could live up to. While the cultures understood the value of abiding by their virtues and ideals, they were also inherently aware of the challenges and strength of character required to accomplish such a task. Heroes were regarded as the embodiment of this struggle and a true reflection of people who had given it all to achieve the unattainable. In ancient and medieval epics, heroes played the same role of representing the dominant values and beliefs of a culture. As this values and beliefs changed, the character of heroes in the story also changed to embrace the new perspective. Sometimes, the characters represented ideals shared by

    Read More

  • Being a Hero in The Histories of Herodotus

    1661 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many people consider him the father of history; others prefer to call him the father of lies. Whatever may be your perception of Herodotus’ work, the truth is that Herodotus began a new manner of writing history in which human psychology takes a fundamental place. He was the first historian who really considered the reasons why things happen and did not limit his narrative to just facts. His book The Histories evidences all the distinctive features that he employs through his description of facts as well as the intrinsic analysis that he includes to his storyline about controversial topics like the definition of what heroes really are. Indeed, The Histories’ book 7 reveals Herodotus’ astonishing and unique view of heroism. During his description of the facts that took place during the war between Persians and Greeks, Herodotus presents the qualities and attributes which, for his understanding, make a real hero. In his book, Herodotus talks about Xerxes, the king of the Persians who led the offense against the Greeks, and Leonidas, the king of the Spartans who fought with honor and bravery against the Persians. According to Herodotus, although Xerxes won the war with big advantage, Leonidas was the real hero of the story because he confronted the enemy with great passion, humility, strength, and bravery.

    Read More

  • Gilgamesh: A Mythical Hero

    855 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...teristics and literary devices. The general archetypical description of a hero follows an outline of a muscular figure and super abilities. Yet on the contrary, in myths, heroes may not possess any of those traits. Whether the so-called hero is learning their lesson, overcoming struggle or even descending into darkness, all heroes share some similar and almost identical characteristics. A vast majority of all mythological heroes share the same basic idea which, helps audiences identify whether or not the character is indeed a hero or not. From story to myth or fairytale to drama, the hero is one character who changes the plot entirely. Whether that hero may be saving a burning building, or discovering who they are themselves, our heroes all give us hopes and dreams that one day even our worth will be recognized by ourselves and others as our admirable hero’s are.

    Read More

  • Ancient Heroes Research Paper

    955 Words  | 2 Pages

    Even though the heroes of the ancient past were facing fantastical odds, the morals of their stories were, in many ways, much more human. Granted that fairy tales are nice and wonderful, they distract us from the realism that is our world. Allowing us to face this authenticity, people like ancient hero’s would lead us to a well adjusted

    Read More

  • Heroes of Ancient Times

    817 Words  | 2 Pages

    Everyone has a hero, a person who is looked up to and admired. A hero can be described many ways and is defined differently by different cultures. One culture may see someone as a hero when another sees them as a villain. This is true for different time periods, as well. The ancient Greeks had many different characteristics for a hero compared to the Romans. Most of the Greek’s qualifications contradicted the Roman’s qualifications. Odysseus is the perfect Greek hero by displaying cunningness and deception; whereas, Aeneas represented the Roman hero by focusing on the community instead of his own individual gains and by being self – disciplined.

    Read More

  • Greek Myths

    1500 Words  | 3 Pages

    no avail. Hearing of a reward offered by Apollo for the recovery of the herd,

    Read More

  • An Ancient Hero

    735 Words  | 2 Pages

    Everyone has his own definition of a hero. Some imagine the classic comic book character: a figure dressed in brightly colored tights and a flapping cape, always engaged in an adventure of some sort. Others think up images of big, burly men and women who save lives every day serving as firefighters, policemen, and the like. Even intellectuals and inventors, from Voltaire to Edison, are viewed as some of society’s “greats”. These descriptions may seem very different when grouped together, but in reality they have plenty in common. Each individual noted is clever, dedicated, courageous, and respected. These qualities they possess truly identify them as heroes. But where did we get this universal definition? Looking back through thousands of years of the history, it is surprisingly easy to pinpoint a documented source. Odysseus Laertiadês, one of the first protagonists in literature, has been without a doubt inspiring readers to become the best they can be ever since his story was recorded. This is why throughout Homer’s “Odyssey”, the main character’s cleverness, dedication, courage, and respect other characters have for him not only help to define him as a heroic figure in literature but also remind us of the real heroes of today, making what seems an outdated tale all the more relevant in both present and future societies.

    Read More

More about The Role Of Heroes In Ancient Greek Mythology

Open Document